Balvi Thumbnails
Inta Ruka, a good photographer friend of mine from Riga, took me to her mother's home town of Balvi in eastern Latvia. Inta has been photographing the people in the countryside there for more than 15 years. These photographs were taken by me in October, 1996. This region known as "Latgale" is known as one of the poorest of the Latvian countryside. Since the Soviets decimated the Latvian farmer by forced deportation to Siberia on March 25, 1949, this area has became even poorer. Now what's left is the small family acerage. This usually consists of a small house with a wood stove, maybe 10-30 acres of land, a few cows, goats, chickens and an occassional pig. "We are well-fed, but we have no money" is a typical comment. Milk prices in the area are about 12 cents per liter. Many farmers comment that its not worth selling!
Jancis Dzintra Janis
Maris' cabbages Nikolajs Krims
Marija Maris & Natasa Valdis
Jaunteva Olga Emma smoking
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These pages and all the contents are Copyright 1997 by John Nollendorfs.
Last modified Tuesday, March 4, 1997
| Inta Ruka, a good photographer friend of mine from Riga, took me to her mother's home town of Balvi in eastern Latvia. Inta has been photographing the people in the countryside there for more than 15 years. These photographs were taken by me in October, 1996. This region known as "Latgale" is known as one of the poorest of the Latvian countryside. Since the Soviets decimated the Latvian farmer by forced deportation to Siberia on March 25, 1949, this area has became even poorer. Now what's left is the small family acerage. This usually consists of a small house with a wood stove, maybe 10-30 acres of land, a few cows, goats, chickens and an occassional pig. "We are well-fed, but we have no money" is a typical comment. Milk prices in the area are about 12 cents per liter. Many farmers comment that its not worth selling! |
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| Jancis | Dzintra | Janis |
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| Maris' cabbages | Nikolajs | Krims |
| | |
| Marija | Maris & Natasa | Valdis |
| | |
| Jaunteva | Olga | Emma smoking |
| Home | Scenic Country | Urban Scenes |
Last modified Tuesday, March 4, 1997